CUW Early Childhood Education (ONLINE)
This program is offered in both a licensure and non-licensure option.
Wisconsin licensure option
This program is designed for working adults who wish to pursue a bachelor degree in education and teaching license for children ages birth through grade 3.
Non-licensure option
Students in this option will not obtain a teaching license from the state of Wisconsin. This program is specifically designed for candidates residing outside of Wisconsin who wish to pursue a Concordia education in teaching but do not intend to obtain a Wisconsin teaching license. This option may be particularly appealing to those who are not Wisconsin residents but are interested in earning the Lutheran Teacher Diploma, which would make them eligible to receive a Call from a Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod school to serve as a church worker. This adaptation aligns with federal Department of Education regulations, which restrict out-of-state learners from enrolling in licensure programs outside their home state.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Pupil Development. The teacher understands how pupils grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas. The teacher designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences for pupils.
- Learning Differences. The teacher uses his or her understanding of individual pupil differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each pupil to meet high standards.
- Learning Environments. The teacher works with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
- Content Knowledge. The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of each discipline he or she teaches. The teacher creates learning experiences that make the discipline accessible and meaningful for pupils to assure mastery of the content.
- Application of Content. The teacher understands how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage pupils in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.
- Assessment. The teacher understands and uses multiple methods of assessment to engage pupils in their own growth, to monitor pupil progress, and to guide the teacher’s and pupil’s decision making.
- Planning for Instruction. The teacher plans instruction that supports every pupil in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, pedagogy, pupils, and pupils’ communities.
- Instructional Strategies. The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage pupils to develop a deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to develop skills to apply knowledge in a meaningful way.
- Professional Learning and Ethical Practice. The teacher engages in ongoing professional learning. The teacher uses evidence to continuously evaluate the teacher’s practice, including the effects of the teacher’s choices and actions on pupils, their families, other educators, and the community. The teacher adapts the teacher’s practice to meet the needs of each pupil.
- Leadership and Collaboration. The teacher seeks appropriate leadership roles and opportunity in order to take responsibility for pupil learning, to collaborate with pupils, their families, educators, and the community, and to advance the profession.
- CUW Faith Standard: Educators model Christian servant leadership by demonstrating consistent moral and ethical behavior, inspiring others by example in their personal, professional, and community lives. In Christian schools, teachers integrate faith and learning, embodying a biblical worldview while fostering a value system that emphasizes character, mission, and service. Teacher candidates seeking the Lutheran Teacher Diploma adhere to the doctrine and practice of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
Curriculum
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Post-Traditional Core Requirements | 44-47 | |
Early Childhood Major Requirements (Public) | 73 | |
Early Childhood Major Requirements (Lutheran or Christian Ed) | 79 | |
Electives | 0-3 | |
Total Hours | 120-126 |
Core Curriculum
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Theology - Public Education | ||
REL 1000 | The Bible | 3 |
REL 1100 | Christian Faith | 3 |
Theology - Lutheran (LTD) & Christian (CTC) | ||
REL 2010 | Old Testament | 3 |
REL 2020 | New Testament | 3 |
REL 2030 | Biblical Theology | 3 |
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
CCE 1020 | Western Culture & Worldview | 3 |
CCE 1030 | Western Thought & Worldview | 3 |
CCE 1040 | Science & Humanity | 3 |
Liberal Arts Dimensions | ||
ENG 2100 | College Writing | 3 |
Communication or Language course | 3 | |
Faith and Life Elective | 3 | |
ED 1102 | Foundations of Education | 3 |
HHP 1115 | Fit and Well | 2 |
Human Creativity and Expression: Art, Music, Theater, Literature or Graphic Design activity course | 3 | |
MATH 1190 | Number Sense: Teaching Pre K-9 | 3 |
ENV 1050 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
ED 1103 | Human Relations for Teachers | 3 |
Society & Culture elective | 3 |
Early Childhood Major Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Theoretical Component | ||
ED 1230 | Nature of the Exceptional Child | 3 |
ED 1231 | Best Practices in Engaging Children in Literacy | 3 |
ED 1275 | Human Learning | 3 |
ED 4411 | The Profession and Ethics of Teaching | 3 |
Practical Component | ||
ED 2204 | The Art & Science of Teaching Reading | 3 |
ED 2221 | Infant and Toddler Development | 3 |
ED 2327 | Collaborating with Families and Professionals in a Diverse Society | 3 |
ED 2358 | Emergent Writing: Birth to Grade 3 | 2 |
ED 2466 | Health, Safety, and Fitness for the Young Child | 3 |
ED 3356 | STEM: Math in Early Childhood | 2 |
ED 3357 | STEM: Science and Environment in Early Childhood | 2 |
ED 3359 | Curriculum and Techniques in Early Childhood | 4 |
ED 3400 | Creativity in Early Childhood | 2 |
ED 3401 | Instruction & Assessment of Reading | 3 |
ED 4479 | Assessment Strategies for Diverse Learners | 3 |
MATH 1200 | Data & Space: Teaching Pre K-9 | 3 |
Clincial Component | ||
ED 4501 | Field Experience 1 | 3 |
ED 4502 | Pre-Student Teaching Clinical Experience 1 | 3 |
ED 4503 | Field Experience 2 | 3 |
ED 4504 | Field Experience 3 | 1 |
ED 4505 | Field Experience 4 | 1 |
ED 4506 | Field Experience 5 | 1 |
ED 4507 | Pre-Student Teaching Clinical Experience 2 | 3 |
Student Teaching Component | ||
ED 4412 | Portfolio Completion - Elementary | 1 |
ED 4450 | Birth to Grade 3 Student Teaching | 12 |
Elective credits | 3 | |
Lutheran (LCMS Members) Teacher Diploma Requirements | ||
ED 2306 | Teaching the Faith | 3 |
REL 4000 | Lutheran Confessions | 3 |
Christian Teacher Certification Requirements | ||
ED 2306 | Teaching the Faith | 3 |
Select one of the following | ||
REL 3500 | A Survey of Christian Thought | 3 |
REL 3860 | Law and Gospel in the Life of the Church | 3 |
REL 4000 | Lutheran Confessions | 3 |
PHIL 3250 | Christian Apologetics | 3 |
PHIL 3340 | Christ and Culture | 3 |
Curriculum
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Non-Licensable Post-Traditional Core Requirements | 44-47 | |
Non-Licensable Early Childhood Major Requirements (Public) | 73 | |
Non-Licensable Early Childhood Major Requirements (Lutheran or Christian Ed) | 79 | |
Electives | 0-3 | |
Total Hours | 120-126 |
Core Curriculum
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Theology - Public Education | ||
REL 1000 | The Bible | 3 |
REL 1100 | Christian Faith | 3 |
Theology - Lutheran (LTD) & Christian (CTC) | ||
REL 2010 | Old Testament | 3 |
REL 2020 | New Testament | 3 |
REL 2030 | Biblical Theology | 3 |
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
CCE 1020 | Western Culture & Worldview | 3 |
CCE 1030 | Western Thought & Worldview | 3 |
CCE 1040 | Science & Humanity | 3 |
Liberal Arts Dimensions | ||
ENG 2100 | College Writing | 3 |
Communication or Language course | 3 | |
Faith and Life Elective | 3 | |
ED 1102 | Foundations of Education | 3 |
HHP 1115 | Fit and Well | 2 |
Human Creativity and Expression: Art, Music, Theater, Literature or Graphic Design activity course | 3 | |
MATH 1190 | Number Sense: Teaching Pre K-9 | 3 |
ENV 1050 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
ED 1103 | Human Relations for Teachers | 3 |
Society & Culture elective | 3 |
Early Childhood Major Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Theoretical Component | ||
ED 1230 | Nature of the Exceptional Child | 3 |
ED 1231 | Best Practices in Engaging Children in Literacy | 3 |
ED 1275 | Human Learning | 3 |
ED 4411 | The Profession and Ethics of Teaching | 3 |
Practical Component | ||
ED 2204 | The Art & Science of Teaching Reading | 3 |
ED 2221 | Infant and Toddler Development | 3 |
ED 2327 | Collaborating with Families and Professionals in a Diverse Society | 3 |
ED 2358 | Emergent Writing: Birth to Grade 3 | 2 |
ED 2466 | Health, Safety, and Fitness for the Young Child | 3 |
ED 3356 | STEM: Math in Early Childhood | 2 |
ED 3357 | STEM: Science and Environment in Early Childhood | 2 |
ED 3359 | Curriculum and Techniques in Early Childhood | 4 |
ED 3400 | Creativity in Early Childhood | 2 |
ED 3401 | Instruction & Assessment of Reading | 3 |
ED 4479 | Assessment Strategies for Diverse Learners | 3 |
MATH 1200 | Data & Space: Teaching Pre K-9 | 3 |
Clincial Component | ||
ED 4501 | Field Experience 1 | 3 |
ED 4502 | Pre-Student Teaching Clinical Experience 1 | 3 |
ED 4503 | Field Experience 2 | 3 |
ED 4504 | Field Experience 3 | 1 |
ED 4505 | Field Experience 4 | 1 |
ED 4506 | Field Experience 5 | 1 |
ED 4507 | Pre-Student Teaching Clinical Experience 2 | 3 |
Student Teaching Component | ||
ED 4412 | Portfolio Completion - Elementary | 1 |
ED 4450 | Birth to Grade 3 Student Teaching | 12 |
Elective credits | 3 | |
Lutheran (LCMS Members) Teacher Diploma Requirements | ||
ED 2306 | Teaching the Faith | 3 |
REL 4000 | Lutheran Confessions | 3 |
Christian Teacher Certification Requirements | ||
ED 2306 | Teaching the Faith | 3 |
Select one of the following | ||
REL 3500 | A Survey of Christian Thought | 3 |
REL 3860 | Law and Gospel in the Life of the Church | 3 |
REL 4000 | Lutheran Confessions | 3 |
PHIL 3250 | Christian Apologetics | 3 |
PHIL 3340 | Christ and Culture | 3 |
Plan
Semester 1 | Hours | |
---|---|---|
ED 1102 | Foundations of Education | 3 |
CCE 1030 | Western Thought & Worldview | 3 |
Hours | 6 | |
Semester 2 | ||
ED 1275 | Human Learning | 3 |
CCE 1020 | Western Culture & Worldview | 3 |
ED 2221 | Infant and Toddler Development | 3 |
REL 1000 or REL 1590 |
The Bible or Heritage of Faith |
3 |
ED 4501 | Field Experience 1 | 3 |
Hours | 15 | |
Semester 3 | ||
ED 1230 | Nature of the Exceptional Child | 3 |
MATH 1190 | Number Sense: Teaching Pre K-9 | 3 |
ED 1103 | Human Relations for Teachers | 3 |
MATH 1200 | Data & Space: Teaching Pre K-9 | 3 |
ED 4502 | Pre-Student Teaching Clinical Experience 1 | 3 |
Hours | 15 | |
Semester 4 | ||
ED 2327 | Collaborating with Families and Professionals in a Diverse Society | 3 |
REL 1100 or REL 2030 |
Christian Faith or Biblical Theology |
3 |
ED 1231 | Best Practices in Engaging Children in Literacy | 3 |
CCE 1040 | Science & Humanity | 3 |
Hours | 12 | |
Semester 5 | ||
ENG 2100 | College Writing | 3 |
ENV 1050 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
ED 2204 | The Art & Science of Teaching Reading | 3 |
FAITH & LIFE | 3 | |
ED 4503 | Field Experience 2 | 3 |
Hours | 15 | |
Semester 6 | ||
ED 4504 | Field Experience 3 | 1 |
ED 2358 | Emergent Writing: Birth to Grade 3 | 2 |
HUMAN CREATIVITY & EXPRESSION | 3 | |
ED 2466 | Health, Safety, and Fitness for the Young Child | 3 |
HHP 1115 | Fit and Well | 2 |
ELECTIVE | 3 | |
ED 4505 | Field Experience 4 | 1 |
Hours | 15 | |
Semester 7 | ||
ED 4506 | Field Experience 5 | 1 |
ED 3401 | Instruction & Assessment of Reading | 3 |
COMMUNICATION & LANGUAGE | 3 | |
SOCIETY & CULTURE | 3 | |
ED 4479 | Assessment Strategies for Diverse Learners | 3 |
Hours | 13 | |
Semester 8 | ||
ED 3400 | Creativity in Early Childhood | 2 |
ED 3356 | STEM: Math in Early Childhood | 2 |
ED 4507 | Pre-Student Teaching Clinical Experience 2 | 3 |
ED 3357 | STEM: Science and Environment in Early Childhood | 2 |
ED 3359 | Curriculum and Techniques in Early Childhood | 4 |
Hours | 13 | |
Semester 9 | ||
ED 4411 | The Profession and Ethics of Teaching | 3 |
ED 4412 | Portfolio Completion - Elementary | 1 |
ED 4450 | Birth to Grade 3 Student Teaching | 12 |
Hours | 16 | |
Total Hours | 120 |
Course options and schedule are subject to change.